Damian: Son of Batman #1Review

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Better left to the imagination.

By Jesse Schedeen

Damian: Son of Batman is a strange comic. Despite ostensibly being a sort of "What If?" extension of Grant Morrison's Batman run, it doesn't mesh with Morrison's work in terms of continuity or in Damian's characterization. The only way this story makes any sort of sense is if you ignore everything that happened after the initial Batman & Son storyline. There's no Doctor Hurt or Black Glove, no Batman Incorporated or Leviathan, and Damian is still as wooden a character as he was in the beginning. Pretending that this book was published in 2007 gives it more context to operate from, but it still doesn't explain why you'd want to read such a story now.

Rather than picking up where a "Damian becomes Batman" story would logically begin, with Damian surviving the events of Batman Incorporated #8 and Batman dying in his place, writer/artist Andy Kubert weaves a completely isolated tale where Damian is a teenage Robin alongside a Batman whose identity is unclear up through the end of this issue. Batman's surprisingly underwhelming death provides the spark for Damian to assume the mantle himself. But as we saw in Batman #666 all those years ago, he has a few fundamental weaknesses that make him a very poor fit for the mantle.

I don't want to get too hung up on continuity in a book about a character who's now dead undertaking a transformation that's never going to happen. And to be fair, when we interviewed him about this book, Kubert confirmed that this series began development many years ago. The continuity gaffs are understandable in that sense. But this story lacks so much of its flavor and impetus by ignoring all the iconic elements Morrison introduced over the course of his run. Damian as Batman isn't the same without the overt, supernatural horror flavor of Batman #666 or the general sense of tragedy that comes the genesis of him taking on the role.

Worse is that this take on Damian shows none of the depth and heart the character gained over the course of his years as Robin. Like I said, Kubert writes Damian as though he were still the same entitled, insufferable brat he was in his first appearances. And maybe that's all Kubert had to go on when he began prepping this book, but surely the dialogue could have been updated even if too many of the pages had already been drawn to allow for massive story changes. Nothing in issue #1 makes me particularly care for this version of Damian or even want him to succeed. Kubert also writes a strange dynamic between Batman and Robin before the former's death, which again, makes it annoyingly unclear as to which character is actually wearing the cape and cowl.

There are further story flaws independent of any continuity problems. Kubert paces the script poorly. After the opening scene, there's too much of a "matter of fact" quality about the story. Kubert rushes through Batman's funeral, Gotham's reaction, the various villains' responses, and so forth. One would have thought that Talia's reaction to Batman's death would involve something more heartfelt than a cold recounting of Damian's origin story. There's no emotion to this comic, which makes it stand out in stark contrast to Kubert and Neil Gaiman's infinitely superior Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?

But with Kubert drawing this book as well as writing, surely the art has to justify the purchase, right? Maybe, depending on how much you enjoy Kubert's style. This issue falls very closely in line with the tone and texture of his work on Morrison and Gaiman's Batman. That means sleek, angular figures, a seedy Gotham, and a strong focus on color and lighting. The best pages are those like the early double-page spread and the funeral sequence, where the figures are almost overpowered by the oppressive, textured environment of Gotham. But Kubert's pages too often suffer from wonky facial expressions, most notably the very first page of Damian staring agape. Less obtrusive but still annoying is the way that Batman is drawn in his 2006-era costume but colored in a halfhearted attempt to resemble the New 52 version. I don't know why anyone is bothering trying to convince readers that this story is unfolding in the New 52.

At some point, it becomes clear that a lack of adherence to Batman continuity is the least of this book's problems. Kubert simply doesn't channel what has made Damian such a great character in recent years. His art helps salvage the issue, but not enough to recommend it to any but the most hardcore of Damian fans. This may have been a journey better left to the imagination.

Mediocre

Damian: Son of Batman proves to be a disappointing return for the fallen hero.

30 Oct 2013

Kubert's art is mostly eye-catching.

It's nice to have Damian back in some capacity.

Doesn't fit into continuity and ignores too much of what made Morrison's run so unique.